Becoming a Deity from Planting the Bodhi Tree

""

When Ji Jingqiu once again stepped into the Inner Realm,

he discovered that the Pure Land World had welcomed a brand-new transformation.

The range broke through the bottleneck encountered at thirty-six feet, leaping to forty feet, more than tripling its previous size.

On the forty-foot Pure Land, although the branches and leaves of the Bodhi Tree were still sparse, the roots and trunk had grown significantly thicker, making the whole tree more upright, standing over a meter tall. Ji Jingqiu could finally sit under it instead of beside it.

It was a solid foundation finally laid down, just waiting for the Supreme True Buddha Sect to offer up once more.

Additionally, a shallow water pool appeared beside the Bodhi Tree.

The pool contained Bitter Sea Water, clear to the bottom, with gentle ripples, making Ji Jingqiu feel he should raise something in it.

But what could survive without withering in the Bitter Sea?

That was not even the biggest change.

Outside the Pure Land, the previously collapsing sky was now covered by an illusory Bitter Sea, with reality and illusion indistinguishable. It reflected dazzling colors, giving the illusion of impending collapse.

And eleven Sky-reaching Divine Pillars stood at the world's corners, temporarily holding up this Bitter Sea.

With his eyesight, he still couldn't see the true face of these eleven light pillars.

But if he guessed correctly, these eleven pillars were related to the mysterious resonance he had sensed before.

Speaking of which...

Where did Fatty Hu go?

Ji Jingqiu looked left and right, but couldn't spot Fatty Hu.

Did that guy run off with the fourth knife?

Just as he was pondering this, a figure came trotting from afar—it was Fatty Hu!

Watching Fatty Hu with the fourth knife in his mouth,

Ji Jingqiu slowly showed a look of astonishment.

How long had it been...

How did the fourth knife get sharpened so suddenly?

Watching as Fatty Hu bumped into his arms, nudging him for credit, Ji Jingqiu gently scratched its chin and generously granted it a day off.

Then, to affirm Fatty Hu, Ji Jingqiu carved a line on the fourth knife:

"Congratulations to Comrade Fatty Hu for winning the Outstanding Individual Title of this Knife Sharpening Contest."

Then he solemnly handed Fatty Hu the fifth knife.

After a brief moment of fun,

Ji Jingqiu continued to comprehend the changes in the Inner Realm.

Just then, the Protecting God that had been slumbering all along, slowly awoke at this moment.

Its ever-changing face finally returned to one unified form, with an aura seamless as one.

Ji Jingqiu looked at His face,

feeling a sense of familiarity.

There were traces of Master Yang, seemingly also of Cheng Yan...

"Please grant me a name, World Venerable," the formally awakened Protecting God said, hands clasped, kneeling reverently.

Naming...

Ji Jingqiu pondered.

Before him stood a being born from the Origin of the Supreme True Buddha, walking the same path of guiding others and oneself.

However, unlike the Supreme True Buddha's pursuit of being the "One True Buddha,"

this Protecting God treaded the path of "Delivering all beings, rescuing suffering, wishing everyone in the world to become Buddha," perfectly opposing the Supreme True Buddha.

Such a vow reminded him of the great vow-making Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva.

Of course, the famous Buddhas and Bodhisattvas he could think of numbered only a few...

In his past life, he didn't believe in Buddhism; his knowledge of Buddhism and Tao only came from novels.

Naming it Ksitigarbha?

Is that being too ambitious?

Ji Jingqiu hesitated until he suddenly remembered a classic TV show from his previous life.

Living Buddha Jidian!

At that moment, he made up his mind.

Then I'll give it a Dharma name and a title!

The title was Ksitigarbha, aiming to be grand and magnificent, and as for the Dharma name, let it be smaller and more ordinary, the opposite.

His Visualization Map was called "Fire House Buddha Hell."

What is Fire House?

It represents the suffering and hardship of the mortal world.

He solemnly said,

"First, I grant you the title Ksitigarbha, wishing you to be as tolerant and immovable as the Earth, as deep and secretive as a treasure."

"Next, I grant you a Dharma name.

In the Three Realms, there is no peace, as if they were a Fire House, so I give you the Dharma name 'Fire Stick.'"

"May you enter the fire and not burn yourself, saving the world without suffering yourself."

Though this name was ordinary, it was full of profound meaning, fitting the Buddhist teachings!

The Protecting God clasped His hands in gratitude, saying, "Thank you, World Venerable, for the name; please grant me permission to sever the final mortal bond."

"Mortal bond?"

Ji Jingqiu was curious but did not stop him, nodding in agreement,

"Go ahead."

The Protecting God rose, bowed again, and then followed the line of Cause and Effect, disappearing from this Pure Land.

...

...

Inside the Martial Arts Hall.

Yang Yan sat quietly inside, meditating and adjusting his breath, his Qi and blood greatly diminished. It was the price of burning his Life Origin that day.

He did not regret it.

Life's greatest tragedy is having no opportunity, nor the ability, to avenge a loved one.

Given the current outcome, he was satisfied; one should not be too greedy in life, right?

He just dared not face one question—did he truly help Tian'er take revenge?

What he saw that day, was it a mere fantasy or reality? He was finding it increasingly hard to distinguish.

Yang Yan knew well that this doubt arose from the regression of his Spirit Realm.

Unless the Spirit Realm was settled as firm as Pan Ding, there was always a chance of regression.

His regression was mainly due to the withering and exhaustion of his Origin Qi and blood.

He should not doubt himself.

What he saw that day was definitely not wrong!

He truly saw Tian'er bidding him farewell!

Yang Yan sat cross-legged, eyes closed, forcing himself into meditation to dispel his inner demons.

He didn't know when,

but there was another figure sitting cross-legged before him.

It was a face similar to his, only much younger.

He looked at the aged man before him with a compassionate expression, slowly closed his eyes, assumed a cross-legged sitting position, forming hand seals like lotus blossoms—exactly the Zen Meditation Seal for guiding others!

At that moment,

Buddha's light emerged from within Him, flowing into Yang Yan with the Zen Meditation Seal, while His form continuously shrank in this process!

He was using His very essence to help Yang Yan break through the final hurdle of Pan Ding.

For Yang Yan, His assistance was but a budding sprout in a gentle rain, yet it opened a crack for the elder, who had been stuck at this realm for years, allowing him to glimpse the vast universe beyond!

In a flicker of life and death, he comprehended Impermanence.

Only those who understand the "Constant" and the "Impermanent" can fathom the mystery of Pan Ding.

Upon entering Pan Ding, the mind becomes like a rock, eternally unmoved, and there is no more speaking of entering or exiting meditation!

Spiritual cultivation stays forever in the heart, never regressing!

Once a decision is made by such a person, others can scarcely change his will—they are truly decisive people.

At this time,

someone stood dazed at the door.

It was Yang Yao, holding a nourishing herbal soup for replenishing Qi and blood.

He stared blankly at the teacher, hearing the transformation within his master's body, as if a transformation akin to rebirth, with Qi and blood resonating like thunder!

Was this a Martial Arts breakthrough?!

No...

It was a breakthrough of the Mental Realm, a sublimation of the spirit!

Yang Yao's spirit was shaken; he had felt an impact from the spiritual level.

In his eyes, his master's figure stood unwavering, as if unraveling the mysteries of the mortal world, and with the master at the center, a wave of spiritual energy spread out.

Within this enveloping wave, Yang Yao, already in meditation, felt an incomparable peace and harmony.

He vaguely seemed to see a Divine being, burning itself to light the surroundings, sitting before the teacher, chanting scriptures with closed eyes, guiding Him.

That Divine being had the same face as his memory of big brother Yang Tian.

In the end,

the Divine being, whose form seemed diminished, slowly stood up, looked in his direction, nodded slightly, lips moving as if entrusting him to take care of the teacher.

Soon after, the familiar face became blurred, and He turned towards the distance.

...

...

In the lower region,

"Sister Cheng Xin, once my grandma and I move out, you can have this house."

Inside a dilapidated apartment building, the boy said happily in a low voice.

Cheng Xin smiled down at him, "Thank you. Where are you moving to?"

"To the Divine Temple at the corner of Seventh Street! Sir Zhuang said they're going to travel soon, and I can bring my grandma to the small house next to the temple to help with daily cleaning and welcoming guests!"

The boy said excitedly,

"Sir Zhuang is very kind. I go to the Divine Temple every day to help with chores, like cleaning and taking out the trash, and I get nutritional meals in exchange! There are also books to read over there!"

Cheng Xin felt a bit dazed, her brown-black eyes losing focus, seemingly transported back to the past.

She knew that street and had been there several times, vaguely remembering there seemed to be a Divine Temple at one of the corners.

But no one had told them, as siblings, that they could work at the temple in exchange for food or even books.

The environment they grew up in, the education they received, was all about being tough; only by being tougher than others could they survive.

The boy's cheerful chatter brought her back to reality from her memories.

She gazed at the boy, seeing the sparkle in his eyes, which was a longing for the future.

Cheng Xin extended her hand, ruffling the boy's messy hair, gently saying, "That's great. Be sure to seize the opportunity and don't be lazy."

The boy nodded vigorously.

Suddenly,

Cheng Xin sensed a gaze from behind.

She patted the boy on the back of the head, signaling him to go back inside.

After the boy went inside and closed the door, she turned calmly.

"Who's there?"

Surprisingly, it was not someone from the Order Office or the Security Bureau, as she had imagined.

At the narrow hallway's end stood a broad-shouldered familiar figure.

He walked slowly into the light, his face revealed, making Cheng Xin stagger back in disbelief, afraid to approach.

It was her brother's face!

But her brother had already...

The man didn't speak, nor did he advance any further, standing half in light, half in shadow, gazing upward.

Cheng Xin stood below, following his gaze upwards, amidst the crowded steel forest, a sliver of daylight descended straight down.

She had never seen such a brilliant starry sky in the lower levels, even if it was just a sliver.

The figure with her had not spoken a word, just like the brother in her memories, a hard, incommunicative stone, yet it seemed to point her way:

Ahead, there was still a path.

...

...

The deeds and scenes of the Protecting God all fell into Ji Jingqiu's "eyes."

He watched as the Protecting God departed, resolving all mortal bonds, guiding others and himself. Realizations poured from his heart like spring water.

To guide others is indeed to guide oneself.

He slowly closed his eyes, a blade cry echoed infinitely within him.

Upon breaking through the fourth limit, Ji Jingqiu unexpectedly discovered,

that this blade...

seemed particularly sharp, encountering no obstacle during the breakthrough!